General

India is a land of many rivers and mountains. Its geographical area of about 329 MHa is criss-crossed by a large number of small and big rivers, some of them figuring amongst the mighty rivers of the world. The rivers and mountains have a greater significance in the history of Indian cultural development, religious and spiritual life. It may not be an exaggeration to say that the rivers are the heart and soul of Indian life.

India is a union of States with a federal set up. Politically, the country is divided into 28 States and 7 Union Territories. A major part of India’s population of 1,027,015,247 (2001 census) is rural and agriculturally oriented for whom the rivers are the source of their prosperity.